Riley-Smith, Jonathan Simon Christopher

A history of the crusades from 1095 through the 1700s, covering crusading in many different theaters of war; analyzing the legal, financial, and structural developments that were necessary to the movement's survival; and examining how the crusades have been perceived by apologists, propagandists, songwriters, and poets.

Guide to the Crusades--wars launched from the 11th through the 13th centuries by European Christians fighting to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims--including commentaries on the crusades, a review of the arts and architecture of the period, and the history of the knightly orders.